Making a difference in older person’s health
The number of older people in New Zealand is growing rapidly. Most people aged 65+ years are fit and healthy, but a minority are frail or vulnerable and require high levels of care and disability support. These increased needs usually arise during the last few years of life, or from chronic illness or disability that may have been present for many years.
Community and Public Health is therefore committed to ensuring positive health outcomes for older people in our region. South Canterbury is the only South Island region with more than 15 percent of population aged over 65.
It is predicted that more than one in 5 people in NZ will be aged over 65 by 2031 and of these one in 8 people will be aged 85 or older. Of significance over the coming decades is the growing proportion of older Māori, Pacific and Asian peoples as well as other ethnic groups.
Don’t let lack of transport isolate or limit you or an older family member
Age Concern Canterbury has a list of community transport services available in the Christchurch/Canterbury area if you or someone you know needs help getting around.
This includes vans or mini buses, volunteer drivers and driving services. Some services are free while others ask for a donation or charge a fee.
Transport can be provided not just for medical appointments or shopping, but also for leisure or pleasure activities, and social opportunities.
Find out about Community Transport Services in Christchurch/Canterbury or contact Age Concern Canterbury for more information (03 366 0903).
Supporting the health and wellbeing of kaumātua in Canterbury
Supporting the health and wellbeing of kaumātua in CanterburyCommunity and Public Health have set up both monthly Health Hubs and Health Clinics for kaumātua or elders and the wider community to access in Canterbury. A steady stream of kaumātua make good use of the information, resources and advice that is on offer. Kaumātua are empowering themselves, developing awareness and taking responsible action for their own health and wellbeing needs. This includes getting medication advice and having checks for blood pressure, hearing, vision or other medical conditions.
Often further medical care is recommended to address concerns raised by the health checks, such as GP follow-up or specialist referrals. All the Hubs and Clinics include whanaungatanga and laughter over a cup of tea.
Timaru District Council launches strategy for Age-Friendly future
Timaru District Council media release: 2nd September 2021
Timaru District Council is launching a new strategy to help make Timaru District a more Age-Friendly community.
The Timaru District has one of the fastest growing populations of older people in New Zealand. By 2038 it is projected that the proportion of our population aged 65 years and over will increase by approximately 8.5 percent. This accounts for about a third of Timaru District residents.
An Age-Friendly Community is one where these older people are engaged and connected to a community that values, respects and supports them.
As part of the creation of the strategy, Timaru District Council is now asking the whole community to take part in a survey to gauge how Age-Friendly the community currently is, and help identify priority areas where it can improve things.
“This survey isn’t only open to people 65 and over. We want feedback from anyone about what they believe older people need to thrive in our community, as what’s helpful for older people is often great for everyone in the community,” says Mayor Nigel Bowen.
Dementia app For Māori launches
An app to help Māori affected by mate wareware (dementia) and to raise awareness of the disease has been launched.
The app is called Mate Wareware and was developed by researchers from the University of Auckland and AUT University following the largest-ever study of Māori affected by dementia. “Kaumatuatanga Ō Te Roro – The Ageing Brain” found the disease is poorly understood within Māori communities and whānau have difficulty accessing information that might help.
Dr Makarena Dudley from the University of Auckland and Brain Research New Zealand, says she is delighted that the app is now in the hands of those who need it.
“The Mate Wareware app has been developed to be Māori-friendly and has been co-created through collaboration with end-users such as kaumātua and whānau who helped identify topics, and user-tested it,” she says.
“Tikanga Māori is central to the app, with an introduction and karakia by kaumātua, and everyone featured in it is Māori – from the social worker to the whānau affected by mate wareware.”
Topics covered in the app include what mate wareware is and what Māori understandings of it is, the types and causes of it, how to look after whānau who are affected by it and how to identify if someone might be suffering from it.
Documents
- Planning for older people’s mental wellbeing (Te Pou 2021).
- Age friendly Aotearoa New Zealand Toolkit (Office for Seniors 2020).
- Enabling Spaces: Supporting older people who hoard in Canterbury (Canterbury DHB 2020 – 6MB).
- Longer, Healthier Lives: New Zealand’s Health 1990–2017 (Ministry of Health 2020).
- Better Later Life – He Oranga Kaumātua 2019 to 2034 (Office for Seniors 2019).
- Long-term Residential Care for Older People: What you need to know (Ministry of Health 2019).
- The drinking patterns of older New Zealanders: National and international Comparisons (Health Promotion Agency 2017).
- Healthy Ageing Strategy (Ministry of Health 2016).
- Attitudes towards ageing (Office for Seniors – Ministry of Social Development 2016).
- Towards gaining a greater understanding of Elder Abuse and Neglect in New Zealand (Office for Senior Citizens 2015).
- 2014 Report on the Positive Ageing Strategy (Ministry of Social Development).
- Alcohol use in advanced age: Findings from LiLACS NZ (University of Auckland 2014).
- Food and Nutrition Guidelines for Healthy Older People: A background paper (Ministry of Health 2013).
- Guidelines on Physical Activity for Older People (Ministry of Health 2013).
- Tatau Kura Tangata: Health of Older Māori Chart Book 2011 (Ministry of Health).
- Life-long sexuality (Family Planning – no longer in print).
Downloads
Download or order resources from the Community Health Information Centre.
- Ageing Well.
- Eating for Healthy Older People.
- What is a Stroke? (NZ Stroke Foundation).
- Alcohol and Older People (Health Promotion Agency).
- Late Life Depression (Mental Health Foundation).
- Looking out for one another: Social isolation and loneliness (Office for Senior Citizens).
Links
- Community Transport Services in Christchurch/Canterbury (AgeConcern).
- Boomers and beyond (Mental Health Foundation).
- SuperSeniors (Ministry of Social Development).
- Eldernet.
- Age Concern Canterbury – has branches covering South Canterbury and West Coast.
- Office for Senior Citizens (Ministry of Social Development).
Contact for more information:
CANTERBURY
Ph: +64 3 364 1777
Fax: +64 3 379 6125
Contacts for more information:
CANTERBURY
Older Person’s Health Specialist Service (CDHB)
Ph: +64 3 337 7899
Age Concern (Canterbury)
Ph: +64 3 366 0903
Elder Care Canterbury
Ph: +64 3 366 5472
Senior Chef
Ph: +64 3 374 1639
MID CANTERBURY
Age Concern (Ashburton)
Ph: +64 3 308 6817
SOUTH CANTERBURY
Age Concern (South Canterbury)
Ph: +64 3 686 6844
Contact the Elder Abuse Response Service if you are concerned about elder abuse:
- Call the FREE helpline (0800 32 668 65);
- Text 5032; or
- Email support[at]elderabuse.nz
Shingles vaccine for older adults
Shingles is a painful rash affecting a particular nerve. It is a long term effect of chickenpox many years after people recover from the disease.
Shingles usually occurs in older people and lasts from 10 to 15 days. The nerve pain can last long after the rash disappears.
A vaccine against shingles (Zostavax) is now free at age 65 in New Zealand.
- Find out more about shingles including the Zostavax vaccine (Ministry of Health).
Advance Care Planning: Having conversations that count
Advance Care Planning (ACP) is the process of thinking about, talking about and planning for future health care and end of life care.
Advance care planning gives everyone a chance to say what’s important to them. It helps older people understand what the future might hold and to say what treatment they would and would not want.
This makes it much easier for families and healthcare providers to know what the person would want – particularly if they can no longer speak for themselves.
- Order resources on advance care planning if you are in Canterbury, South Canterbury or West Coast.
- Get more information on advance care planning (HealthInfo).
- Find out more about advance care plans, including templates and online guides (National Advance Care Planning Cooperative NZ).
- Read or watch stories about having an advance care plan.
Projects promoting social inclusion after the Canterbury earthquakes
Community and Public Health supported two mental wellbeing projects for older people from The Muse Community Music Trust after the 2010/11 earthquakes.
The Rockers of Ages is a singing group for elders and aspiring elders – any age and ability welcome. The group is run by The Muse Community Music Trust.
The Keepsake Singers is for everyone who enjoys singing songs from the past in a fun, friendly atmosphere. The Keepsake Singers is particularly welcoming to older adults and to people experiencing memory loss and dementia.